CHEQUESSETT CACAO ORIGINS

ÖKO CARIBE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FLAVOR PROFILE OF CACAO:
 Honey, strawberry, nutmeg

CAHABÓN

GUATEMALA

FLAVOR PROFILE OF CACAO: 
Orange, almond, oreo cookie

TUMACO

COLOMBIA

FLAVOR PROFILE OF CACAO: 
Whiskey, caramel, molasses

ZORZAL

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FLAVOR PROFILE OF CACAO: 
Sundried raisin, red fruit, walnut
ECUADOR

COSTA ESMERALDAS

This estate produces some of the finest cacao in the world. The Costa Esmeraldas Cacao Company is a Single Family Estate and Cocoa of Excellence Winner.
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WHAT IS DIRECT TRADE

What does “direct trade” or “transparent trade” mean? Chequessett Chocolate makes bean-to-bar chocolate that is equally delicious and fairly produced. When we describe our chocolate as “direct trade,” we refer to the process of buying cacao beans from farmers. Direct trade, as opposed to conventional sourcing, means that we work directly with producers to obtain cacao for a price that works for both parties.

WHY DIRECT TRADE

Beyond costs, the direct trade process entails detailed discussions of labor and environmental practices. Instead of relying on middlemen to do the buying, like most large chocolate operations, we are able to cultivate long-term relationships with the farmers who actually grow the cacao used in our chocolate.

DIRECT TRADE VS. FAIR TRADE

Although direct trade sounds confusingly similar to fair trade, another label describing how chocolate is sourced, direct trade is crucially different. Fair trade is a certification that producers pay a fee to receive. The producer uses this certification to assure buyers that they follow a certain code of labor practices. While fair trade certifications are certainly important, direct trade facilitates durable, honest relationships with the producer. Through the direct trade process, we are able to determine fair prices with the farms and continuously discuss labor and environmental practices.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS

Every farm trip is a learning experience for producer and maker and an opportunity to share our love of the chocolate we make together

SUSTAINABLY SOURCED

TRANSPARENT TRADE

Cacao is delicately fermented and dried to build and capture the flavor potential of each seed